NASA Opens Applications for Lunar Astronaut Corps
The agency seeks candidates for a 2028 return to the moon, expanding eligibility to include nursing degrees.
By Alessia Desai ·
NASA has selected 370 people to train as astronauts since the 1960s, but the agency is now looking for a new class to live and work on the lunar surface. Applications for the astronaut corps open now and remain available through December 3.
Administrator Jared Isaacman stated on Saturday that selected candidates will test spacecraft and operate from a future moon base. He described the missions as requiring technical excellence, sound judgment, teamwork, and courage. The agency currently maintains a corps of 32 active astronauts.
The selection process remains highly competitive. During the previous recruitment cycle, NASA received more than 8,000 applications and chose only 10 candidates. All U.S. citizens may apply, with no official age limit.
Applicants generally require a master’s degree in a STEM-related field such as engineering or mathematics. The agency also mandates a minimum of three years of related professional experience after completing the degree. Candidates with a PhD in a STEM field, medical doctors, or pilots with extensive flight experience may apply in lieu of the master’s degree and work experience requirements.
NASA recently expanded its definition of STEM to include nursing. Anna Schneider, a NASA spokesperson, told NPR on Sunday that master’s-level nursing degrees now meet the minimum educational requirement. Previously, nursing degrees were excluded from the eligible fields. This change broadens the pool of potential applicants for the lunar missions.
Selected astronauts will undergo a two-year training program. The curriculum prepares them for difficult tasks, including landing near the moon’s South Pole. NASA aims to return humans to the moon in 2028, the first such mission since 1972. The agency relies on private partners such as SpaceX and Blue Origin to develop the necessary spacecraft and systems.
At a press conference on November 7 regarding the Artemis III mission, Isaacman expressed high confidence that the mission will launch in 2027. New astronauts will start with a salary of $164,395.
